In Case There Was Any Doubt...

It's been a bit of laziness that's mostly responsible for me not teaching the kids any sign language when they've been too young to talk properly. There was also that nagging doubt that they'd just gesture wildly at me every time they wanted more ice cream instead of just asking. Alex did great without it; anyone who knows her knows that talking is her main thing, so it was never a surprise that she could always convey her needs in a concise fashion.

Gabey, on the other hand, has decided that words are for Alex, and that he can get by just find with the wild gestures, mainly frantic pointing. He knows a few key words, but it rarely helps me to know that he wants Diesel or a random "that". "That" or "this" is all I hear most of the time. Pointing to a cup (sometimes called a "bup"), pointing to whatever Alex has, pointing to forbidden things like the cat water bowl or a hot pan - works for him. Too well, I'm sure, but he's a boy, and I'll just allow the grunts and gestures because they're bound to be around for a long time.

His new-found love of Oreos has brought on a whole new communication skill, though. Mostly, it's frantic excited noises, waving in the Oreos' direction, and "THAT, THAT, THAT!!!!!!!!!!!". Then, pointing to himself, as if there was any doubt who he wanted the Oreos for. Then pointing to his gaping maw, as if to say "Put it right there. I don't have to hold it, I just HAVE TO EAT IT." He goes from fairly insistent to crazed Cookie Monster minus the fur and sophistication of my favorite Sesame Street character. It's compelling. He always gets one Oreo. There is no other thing he wants more, so I'm thinking he needs to work on his words for that, but for now, the cave-baby approach will do.

Preschool!!!

After far too long debating, waiting, procrastinating, we've gotten Alex into a preschool. The 5 minutes from home preschool has her on a waiting list, but looking at how Alex is at home (crazy) and how Mommy and Gabey are (also crazy) I decided the time was now and we just needed to get her in somewhere. Luckily, a few friends in our playgroup all send their kids to one preschool, so I visited on Wednesday and sent her off on Friday for her first day!

It went like this. We got there and she charged right inside, ignoring the director who stands at the door awaiting high fives and/or hugs from each kid every morning. She trucked her way upstairs and proceeded right off to the play dough table to make cookies, stopping only to ask where the oven was to bake those cookies.

Taking the hint, I demanded a quick kiss goodbye and Gabe and I went on our way to an idyllic grocery shopping trip - he got to sit with my purse instead of with a bitey sister - and then we got home for our baby play date. A couple hours later, and we were back in the car to pick up big sister.

I had to park sort of far away because so many parents were there to pick up the kiddies, but from almost two blocks away I heard very loud screaming and crying. I quickly recognized the voice. Imagining that the whole morning had gone that way, I walked a bit faster.

Upon my arrival to the playground I was greeted by one of Alex's teachers who informed me that she had gotten a bit muddy and I should try to remember to bring spare clothes next time. Apparently she had fallen on her bottom in the mud and the screaming was because she got stuck there. But as I looked over, she was playing with the older boys (gasp) and generally very happy. Also very muddy.

A few minutes later, we were headed home, much to Alex's horror. She screamed all the way to the car because she didn't want to leave. As did Gabey, because he was enjoying his time in the playground too but didn't get to get muddy! Poor guy. Anyway, I calmed her down, took a few pictures, and she got "un-upset" (and also put on some clean pants from a friend). All was well again. She told me bits and pieces of what happened that morning - something about snack, friends, a pet show where Ottowina won a ribbon. She asked what Gabey and I did. She asked what the cats did while she was gone.

The rest of the day proceeded as per usual. Fighting with brother, sort of eating lunch, playgroup.

First day, a success. We'll see how long it takes for her to get used to being on her own, but I do predict at least one day of tears when she realizes that Mommy and Gabey will not be joining her at preschool.

Springtime in New England, A Poem

A is for Almost warm enough outside.
B is for Bodies of all the squirrels who died.
C is for Crazy. What kind? Stir.
D is for Diesel throwing up her fur.
E is for Enough, get outside.
F is for Foxes who care not their hunts to hide.
G is for Gabey walking everywhere.
H is for Help me, he's pulling out my hair.
I is for Itchy from poison ivy soon.
J is for Jeff who stays inside until noon.
K is for Kite. This wind is good for that.
L is for Licking. That cats are all about that.
M is for Missing Spring that actually shows up.
N is for No Gabey, please don't grab Alex's cup.
O is for Open as in when will these windows be?
P is for Probably not until May 23.
Q is for Quite enough of cold weather and this sweater.
R is for Ready for weather that is better.
S is for Sunshine, which sometimes we see.
T is for Tempers which flare for Alex and me.
U is for Umpteenth time I've gotten up with Gabey.
V is for Very tired of dealing with issues of baby.
W is for Waiting for flowers to appear.
X is for Xylophone. What else could you expect here?
Y is for Yelling across windswept yard and library.
Z is for Zooming toward Alex being less contrary.

Also, I'm no poet, and yes, some of those were a stretch.

Body Count

The neighborhood foxes have decided that we're worthy of tributes in the form of dead squirrels and other mystery animals. So far I've found a half squirrel on the driveway, saw the male fox drop a half squirrel on the sidewalk, picked up a white, fluffy chunk of mystery animal from the front yard, and even discovered an almost entire squirrel on the front porch. Apparently foxes only like squirrel middles, and most definitely not the tails.

What a downer to try to venture outside with the kiddies only to realize that yet another ritual sacrifice has occurred just outside our door and we have to get the snow/squirrel shovel out again! Alex is convinced that looking at half squirrels is a good idea, but so far I've kept her well away from the carnage.

In likely not-at-all-related news, the parsley has already disappeared completely from the garden. I'm hoping that it was squirrels, because clearly we won't be having too many problems with them for much longer...

I Hate Those Days

The days when I realize that the kids and I have done virtually nothing fun, stimulating, interesting, or with any sort of good day quality to them. Yesterday was one of those days.

The kids woke up amazingly late - almost 9:00!!!!!! - and I had the morning to myself, so I did the usual slothy stuff I do when I can. Like think about the treadmill and then drink another cup of coffee. When they did wake up, we did our normal breakfast thing (Alex sort of eats, Gabey mostly eats until he's had enough and swats it all over the place etc. etc etc.) and then it was off to the races.

We hit two grocery stores - Sriracha needed to be bought and they don't have that at our regular store. In the rain. The trip was complete with Alex slopping through puddles and rude, large women in a small car trying to run us and another grocery shopper over on their way to (I'm assuming here) get their donuts, ice cream and 50-packs of butter for the day.

Then, it was a blur until a relatively unsuccessful library trip - one book for Mommy, one video for Alex and lots of screaming when she was denied block playtime - and we were suddenly back home getting ready for dinner. There was one quick ice cream game in there, but really, at the end of the day, I couldn't think of much else that we did that would constitute a good day.

Boo.

So, off I am right now to have a better, more action-packed day with the kiddies, one of which is whining in his crib right now. He's up first, so I'll let him pick what we get to do. I predict running in circles and pulling out electrical cords all day.

Always Forgetting This...

Alex has decided that the saying is "Babies and gentlemen...". I now say this all the time.

10 Til 9

And the kids are still asleep, or at least, in their rooms and very quiet. Gabey has his reason - he sprouted a pretty big fever yesterday and had it until at least 2 this morning. I'm hoping it's teething -related, but his cough tells me otherwise. I'm sure a doctor's visit would prove what the last 5 visits for various family members has proved - that there area heck of a lot of viral infections going around that we can't do anything about. Boo, but also hooray to the doctors who don't prescribe antibiotics for everything under the sun.

Alex is probably just sleeping in because it's cloudy. She's probably half woken up, noticed that it's still vaguely dark outside, and decided to go back to sleep. Her father's daughter, for sure.

Anyway, I'm hoping that we'll leave the house for more than just groceries today, but that all depends on whether or not Gabey's feeling up to some out of the house time. I suppose, were I the pinnacle of exemplary parenting and good citizenship, I'd keep us all locked up indoors (or at least very much alone in the house and surrounding yard) until he seemed to be healthy again, but at least one family member has been sick from the month of February until this moment, and that's just not going to cut it. We've been chained at home for the last two days, and I'm feeling my crazy coming on. Not to mention that Jeff's got a late night scheduled, so it's me and the kiddies for a loooooooong day alone.

So, perhaps an adventure into the rainy wilds today. We're our of Sriracha, so that pretty much counts as a grocery emergency. And maybe the library is calling our name, assuming Gabey isn't coughing his little lungs out in that sort of "I'll get everyone within a five block radius sick." sort of way. Only time will tell, but for now, maybe I should just line up the craft options for Alex and the fever reducers for Gabey. Just in case.